There’s a feeling you get in the pit of your stomach. It happens when you step up to the plate when you play baseball. It happens when you step on a stage to say your lines. It happens when someone surprises you and jumps out at you from behind a door. That feeling you get – we call that fear. But what if it’s really something more?

When you get that feeling in the pit of your stomach something happens in you that’s really amazing. When you get that feeling you can run a little faster. You can jump a little higher. You can be a little more clever than you normally are. All because of that feeling you get in the pit of your stomach. It’s almost like that feeling is your superpower. With that feeling, it’s like you become something more than you are on your own.

We call it fear, but fear doesn’t have to make you cowardly or cruel. Fear can make you kind. Without fear, we can’t be courageous. Fear can push you to accomplish something you never imagined you could do on your own. And there’s a reason for it.

What we call fear God calls something else.

II Timothy 1:7 says, “God hasn’t given you a spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of sound mind.”

What if that feeling in the pit of your stomach isn’t simply fear? What if that’s what it feels like when God gives you power, love and sound mind?

Sound mind – that’s knowing what to do.Power – that’s the strength to do it.Love – that’s caring enough to be afraid, but to choose the right thing anyway. We call that bravery or courage.

That feeling you get in the pit of your stomach is God reminding you, “I am with you. I am for you. And I am giving you the power, love and sound mind you need to be brave enough to do this.” Trusting Him is the key to bravery.

Sometime soon you’ll feel it again. You’ll be at work or school or with friends. You’ll have an opportunity to do the right thing, to speak up for someone who can’t speak for themselves, or to share the gospel with a friend. You’ll have a choice to make. As soon as it happens you’ll feel it again, that sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach, and you’ll have a choice.

Will I be paralyzed by fear or will I trust God?

This is your moment to be brave. This is what power, love and sound mind feels like. This is what it feels like for God to give you the words to say, the strength to say them and the courage to care about your friend enough to speak the truth in love.

What you call fear I call the power of God in me to make me more than I am on my own.